Muzzle brake torque assist for multi-barrel weapons

ABSTRACT

A muzzle recoil brake has a plurality of gas deflection plates disposed downstream of the barrel muzzles for providing both a forward thrust and a rotary torque to the rotor from the gun gas exiting and expanding from the gun muzzles.

United States Patent Farrington et al.

3,703,122 51 Nov. 21, 1972 594,710 11/1897 Simpson 89/126 786,230 3/1905 McClean....................89/l4 C 3,041,939 7/1962 Dardick...................89/191 X 3,528,336 9/1970 Donner............ 89/14 C [54] MUZZLE BRAKE TORQUE ASSIST FOR MULTI-BARREL WEAPONS [72] Inventors: Dale A. Farrington, Winooski; George E Vandevord, South Burlington, both of Vt.

Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley General Electric Company Attorney-Bailin L. Kuch, Irving M. Freedman, Harry L. Neuhauser, Oscar B. Waddell 1970 and Joseph B. Forman [21] Appl. No.: 96,681

[73] Assignee:

[22] Filed:

C. Burgess, Frank ABSTRACT [52] U5. Cl.........................89/14 C, 89/159, 89/160 A uzz e ecoil b ake has a plu ality of gas deflection .F41f 17/12 plates disposed downstream of the barrel muzzles for [51] Int,

.-..89/l2, l3, 14 C, 126, 127, providing both a forward thrust and a rota ry torque to [58] Field of Search.....

the rotor from the gun gas exiting and expanding from the gun muzzles.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Taylor...............

PATENIEIJHMI m2 INVENTORS.

DALE A. FARRINGTON, GEORGE E. VANDEVORD.

, TEIR TTORNEY.

MUZZLE BRAKE TORQUE ASSIST FOR MULTI- BARREL WEAPONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a supplemental gas drive and recoil brake device for a Gatling type gun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Gatling type guns, having a plurality of gun barrels disposed in an annular row in a rotor for rotation in housing, are well known, having been first disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 36,836 issued Nov. 4, 1862 to RI. Gatling. The early Gatling guns had manual-crank drives. C.J. Ehbets in U.S. Pat. No. 550,262 issued Nov. 26, 1895, and WE. Simpson in U.S. Pat. No.

598,822 issued Feb. 8, 1898 disclose supplemental gas drives, wherein gun gas is bled from a port in the side of each barrel to operate a ratchet drive for the rotor. The modern Gatling gun is first disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,921 issued Sept. 2, 1958 to H. McC. Otto, having an electric motor drive. Piston-cam operated gas drives are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,022 issued Mar. 28, 1967 to RR. Bernard et al and U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,701 issued Oct. 29, 1968 to R.E. Chiabrandy.

Muzzle brakes for single barrel guns are well known, and are shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 1,994,458 issued Mar. 19, 1935 to GM. Barnes, U.S. Pat. No. 2,457,802 issued Jan. 4, 1949 to A. Bauer and U.S. Pat. No. 2,567,826 issued Sept. 11, 1951 to LB. Prache.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a combination muzzle recoil brake and supplemental gas drive for a gun having a plurality of gun barrels in a rotor making maximum utilization of the available gun gas for both the recoil brake and rotary drive functions.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a muzzle recoil brake having a plurality of gas deflection plates disposed downstream of the barrel muzzles for providing both a forward thrust and a rotary torque to the rotor from the gun gas exiting and expanding from the gun muzzles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a muzzle brake torque assist device embodying this invention mounted on the forward end of the gun barrel cluster of a Gatling type 8 FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the brake and cluster of the gun of FIG. 1 taken along plate H-Il of FIG. 1;

and

FIG. 3 is a detail view in elevation of the brake taken along plane Ill-III of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION each extending as a cone into a plate 28. The function of the primary gas expander is to control the rate of expansion of the gas exiting at the muzzle; the rate of expansion being a function of the cone angle A. The minor interior diameter of the cone is the same as the gun barrel muzzle; and its major interior diameter is a function of the cone angle A and the length. The exterior configuration is cylindrical, with those portions not needed for, strength machined away to minimize weight.

A primary recoil plate 30 is fixed approximately 2% to 3 projectile diameters longitudinally away from the gun barrel muzzle, by a plurality of spacer tubes 32. The primary recoil plate 30 is cylindrical in shape with a plurality of conical shaped portions 34, one for each gun barrel. The minor interior diameter of each portion is slightly larger than the diameter of the projectiles, and is constant for a limited longitudinal distance, and then enlarges as a cone, similar to portions 26. These portions 34 provide respective passageways for the projectiles through the primary recoil plate, and also provide controlled expansion of such of the gun gas as passes therethrough.

A secondary recoil plate 36 is fixed approximately 2% to 3 projectile diameters longitudinally from the entrance plane of the primary recoil plate by a plurality of spacer tubes 38. The secondary recoil plate is cylindrical in shape with a plurality of longitudinal bores 40, one for each gun barrel, each of an internal diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the projectile for which it provides a passageway.

The primary gas expander 22, the primary recoil plate 30 and the secondary recoil plate 36 are fixed in alignment by a plurality of bolts 41 and nuts 42 together with a plurality of secantly, laterally directed, spacer-torque assist plates 44, adjacent the primary recoil plate, and a plurality of secantly, laterally directed, spacer-torque assist plates 46 adjacent the secondary recoil plate. Intermediate plates 48 may be welded between the fore and aft rims of the primary recoil plate to maintain the rigidity of the plate.

In operation, ignition of the powder charge of the round generates a mass of gun gas which accelerates the projectile of the round and a slug of air in front of the projectile through the respective barrel 14. Some of the mass of gas so generated escapes around the base of the projectile and travels out ahead of the projectile.

After the base of the projectile departs the barrel muzzle, the mass of gas expands in volume and accelerates and impinges on the primary bafile plate 30, by which it is directed radially outwardly. This impingement provides a forward thrust on the primary baffle plate which acts opposite to the recoil thrust. The redirected mass of gas then impinges upon the adjacent torque assist plate or vane 44 and exits the device almost tangentially to its periphery. This impingement provides a rotational torque to the device and, thereby, to the barrel cluster 12.

While the projectile is within the respective opening in the primary recoil plate, the expanding gas is restricted to flow along the surface of the primary baffle plate; and while the projectile is within the respective opening in the secondary recoil plate, the expanding gas is restricted to flow in part along the surface of the secondary baffle plate, and in part along the surface of the primary baffle plate. Further, after the projectile has exited the device, the apertures are open and provide a relatively unrestricted exit for the remaining gas. However, some of the remaining gas is expanded and accelerated as it passes through the aperture in the primary baffle plate and impinges on the secondary bafi'le plate to provide a continued forward thrust to oppose the recoil thrust. This gas continues on outwardly to impinge on the torque assist plate to provide a rotational torque. These torques are provided for each round fired.

The forward thrust opposes the recoil thrust, and thereby reduces the recoil momentum of the gun. The rotational thrust supplements the gun drive, and thereby reduces the steady state power required to drive the gun.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A muzzle brake and torque assist device in combination with a gun having a rotating cluster of a plurality of barrels, said device fixed to and rotating with said cluster, and comprising:

a gas expander plate having a plurality of longitudinally, substantially cone shaped apertures therein, a respective one for longitudinal alignment with each gun barrel, adapted to pass a projectile from a tired round therethrough, and adapted to progressively expand and accelerate the mass of gas from the fired round;

a primary recoil plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a respective one for longitudinal alignment with each gun barrel, adaptedto pass the projectile therethrough, and having an aft transverse surface adapted to receive impinging expanding gas thereupon to develop a thrust opposite in direction to the recoil thrust of the gun barrel and to deflect such impinging gas radially, outwardly; and

a plurality of annularly spaced apart vanes, each extending longitudinally between said gas expander plate and said primary recoil plate, and secantly, laterally directed, each adapted to receive redirected gas impinging thereupon to develop a rotary thrust in the direction of rotation of the cluster.

2. A device according to claim 1 further including:

a secondary recoil plate, longitudinally spaced from said primary recoil plate, having a plurality of apertures therein, a respective one for longitudinal alignment with each gun barrel, adapted to pass the projectile therethrough, and having a transverse surface adapted to receive impinging expanding gas thereupon to develop a thrust opposite in direction to the recoil thrust of the gun barrel and to deflect such impinging gas radially, outwardly; and

an additional plurality of annularly spaced apart vanes, each extending lon itudinally between said primary recoil plate an said secondary recoil plate, and secantly, laterally directed, each adapted to receive redirected gas impinging thereupon to develop a rotary thrust in the direction of rotation of the cluster. 

1. A muzzle brake and torque assist device in combination with a gun having a rotating cluster of a plurality of barrels, said device fixed to and rotating with said cluster, and comprising: a gas expander plate having a plurality of longitudinally, substantially cone shaped apertures therein, a respective one for longitudinal alignment with each gun barrel, adapted to pass a projectile from a fired round therethrough, and adapted to progressively expand and accelerate the mass of gas from the fired round; a primary recoil plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a respective one for longitudinal alignment with each gun barrel, adapted to pass the projectile therethrough, and having an aft transverse surface adapted to receive impinging expanding gas thereupon to develop a thrust opposite in direction to the recoil thrust of the gun barrel and to deflect such impinging gas radially, outwardly; and a plurality of annularly spaced apart vanes, each extending longitudinally between said gas expander plate and said primary recoil plate, and secantly, laterally directed, each adapted to receive redirected gas impinging thereupon to develop a rotary thrust in the direction of rotation of the cluster.
 1. A muzzle brake and torque assist device in combination with a gun having a rotating cluster of a plurality of barrels, said device fixed to and rotating with said cluster, and comprising: a gas expander plate having a plurality of longitudinally, substantially cone shaped apertures therein, a respective one for longitudinal alignment with each gun barrel, adapted to pass a projectile from a fired round therethrough, and adapted to progressively expand and accelerate the mass of gas from the fired round; a primary recoil plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a respective one for longitudinal alignment with each gun barrel, adapted to pass the projectile therethrough, and having an aft transverse surface adapted to receive impinging expanding gas thereupon to develop a thrust opposite in direction to the recoil thrust of the gun barrel and to deflect such impinging gas radially, outwardly; and a plurality of annularly spaced apart vanes, each extending longitudinally between said gas expander plate and said primary recoil plate, and secantly, laterally directed, each adapted to receive redirected gas impinging thereupon to develop a rotary thrust in the direction of rotation of the cluster. 